In October, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conclude its three-year program granting long-haul authority to Mexican carriers. A 2007 law requires that the OIG audit the program and submit a final audit to Congress six months after the program ends.

The office announced July 30 it would begin work immediately to determine:

Whether the FMCSA has established sufficient mechanisms to determine if the pilot program adversely effected motor carrier safety

If federal and state monitoring and enforcement activities sufficiently ensure that program participants comply with all regulations and

That the program consists of a representative and adequate sample of Mexico carriers likely to engage in cross-border operations beyond the U. S.-Mexico border zone.

The auditors had issued its initial report shortly before the program began and in its 11-month.

When the interim report was published, four carriers had authority under the program. Auditors concluded it lacked sufficient data and participation to draw safety conclusions. The program requires at least 4,100 inspections of 46 carriers over three years to make statistically valid analysis and projections regarding safety.

Currently, 13 carriers participate in the program and a total of 5, 312 inspections have been conducted since the program began.